Between work, home, and social responsibilities, you often feel that all your time is spent taking care of others. I know, I see you! Neglecting self-care is easy in a busy world, but the consequences can be serious. Adding self-care practices to your daily routine can greatly strengthen your health and well-being.
Plus, experts share that the happiest and most successful people regularly focus on self-care!
Try these simple self-care strategies today:
1. Block out time for self-care in your schedule. It's not enough to occasionally stop your busy lifestyle and take a walk or indulge in a hot bath. Self-care is an ongoing process. Just as you reserve time in your schedule for other appointments, set aside time to take care of yourself, too. Honestly, this was KEY for me. To actually mark off time on my calendar so I am prioritizing my own self care.
* It's important to adopt self-care habits that you can enjoy on a regular basis. They'll help you avoid burnout, increase your productivity, and allow you to enjoy life. One that I do regularly is take a nice hot shower before bed to wash away all the day's energy. This is literally a five minute shower, but it's enough to help me refresh! I don't wash my hair, I just pile it up on top of my head. I use my favorite #NativeBoyWash and I cleanse that energy away!
2. Enjoy your favorite hobby. Whether you love to experiment with new recipes in the kitchen or paint pictures of sunsets, your favorite hobbies can be part of self-care. Hobbies and activities that you already enjoy are easy to select and put into practice.
* You just have to find room in your schedule to do them. This is an important step and shows your commitment to self-care. SCHEDULE IT NOW!
3. Make note of the compliments you receive. You can enjoy this self-care practice even as you work or run errands! Start taking notes of the compliments you receive. You can keep them in a journal, diary, or online folder.
* Your compliment folder can also include emails, notes, thank you cards, and other things that make you smile.
* This self-care practice can help you fight negative thoughts. Compliments can serve as reminders that you matter, your existence is important, and someone appreciates you. I realized I'd actually make excuses as to why a complement wasn't true when someone would complement me! This was mind-blowing! SO, instead of excusing it away like I did, simply start to say "thank you". EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO!
4. Remove clutter. Whether you decide to declutter your closet or clean out the fridge, removing clutter will uplift you. Clutter can drain you physically and mentally. It can also make you unhappy as you try to move through your day.
* Eliminate the things that no longer serve you. For example, if you're keeping clothes in your closet that you hate each time you open the door, replace them with clothes that you love. Make a promise to yourself to go through one box per week that has been "storage" and donate, sell, put away or throw away everything in that box.
5. Do one selfish act. Living selfishly all day isn't recommended, but doing one selfish act that makes you happy can do wonders. You can enjoy just that one thing without feeling guilty about it!
* If you struggle with self-care, it's often because you spend all of your energy and time taking care of others. This is VERY common amongst my clients. We are givers by nature. Unfortunately, we have to start dialing that back so we can start to have a healthy mindset toward ourselves. There's nothing left in your well for yourself when you outlive your own capacity, By taking the time to do one selfish act, such as reading your favorite book or ignoring a boring phone call, you'll be restoring your own importance. Your mind will also start noticing!
Self-care often takes a backseat to work, family, and other obligations. However, without stopping to take care of your mind and body, you're at risk of burning out and suffering from serious health issues. Start making time for your self-care practices today! I'd love for you to tell me what is your act of selfishness? What are you doing ALL FOR YOU? Are you feeling guilty?